FC Dallas 0, Columbus Crew SC 0 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

A stingy defensive match between FC Dallas and Columbus Crew SC, notable for only three saves officially registered between the two goalkeepers, finished in a 0-0 draw at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night.

Up until the 26th minute, neither goalkeeper was really tested at all — but then Federico Higuain fired in what would turn out to be one of the Crew SC's best chances all night, palmed away by Jesse Gonzalez. His Columbus counterpart, Zach Steffen, snuffed out a 33rd-minute free kick shot on goal from Santiago Mosquera which would prove to be the hosts' best first-half chance.

Sturdy defensive work from both sides ensured that the match would stay scoreless, though both teams had late chances to get on the board. Higuain chopped a dangerous ball goalward in the 83rd minute which just missed Gyasi Zardes and the inside of the post, and late-match sub Niko Hansen missed on a few golden opportunities. Dallas had a stoppage time chance from their final sub, Tesho Akindele, but Steffen saved it to preserve his clean sheet.

Goals

None

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: The draw kept FC Dallas first in the West at the match's final whistle — and second by a point at night's end after Sporting Kansas City registered a 5-1 victory over San Jose. Columbus remains 4th in the East, with Montreal making things more interesting in the East race by beatingPhiladelphia and getting within a point of the 5th-place Union.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH: In a match with few moments of outright drama, the late Akindele shot and Steffen save suffices here — it was, after all, a chance for the West leaders to pull off the late heroics that the Crew SC have had a knack for this season.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Nobody stood out as transcendental or uniquely impactful, but Barrios continued a recent run of matches in which he tests defenses with his speed and savvy. The Crew SC did a laudable job of bending-but-not-breaking in his wake.